Sean O’Malley: Petr Yan should face me, not Merab, after surgery

Sean O’Malley believes Petr Yan should consider a different path for his first title defense following back surgery — and he’s volunteering himself as the safer option.

The UFC bantamweight champion, Yan (20-5 MMA, 12-4 UFC), is expected to miss the first half of 2026 after undergoing a minor procedure on his lower back.

Yan carried the injury into his championship bout against Merab Dvalishvili at UFC 323, where he secured a unanimous decision victory. Upon his return, the promotion could match him in a trilogy with Dvalishvili, or potentially pair him with O’Malley (19-3 MMA, 11-3 UFC), who bounced back with a decision win over Song Yadong at UFC 324.

“Ideally, I want Petr Yan next,” O’Malley said on his YouTube channel. “I hate the idea of him coming off back surgery and fighting Merab, especially if he tries to rush it. I rushed it with my hip, and that’s completely different from a back. I don’t know how serious his surgery was, but it sounds bad. Back surgery — and then you’re going to fight Merab? Within a year? That sounds like a terrible mistake.”

While making his case for the matchup, O’Malley also pointed out the difference in preparation Yan would face against him compared to a wrestling-heavy opponent like Dvalishvili.

“I’m not going to go out there and try to shoot and wrestle him,” O’Malley said. “Do you know how hard it is to go through a full fight camp focused on wrestling? Why fight Merab after back surgery when you could fight me? I’m not a strong wrestler, my grappling isn’t great, and I’m 1-2 in my last three fights.”